The intensity of the fight had sobered Valor up, and he knew he had to find a way out of this tomb. He patched himself up as best he could and made his way to the entrance. Pushing on the door with all his weight, he cursed as it refused to budge.

"I cannot be stuck here!" he muttered to himself, frustration boiling inside him.

Turning around, he saw a small hallway leading to the next room, where he was met with towering marble pillars. Three of them had a carving of a wolf, each holding a different weapon. A blade, a trident, and a lightning bolt. Valor paced around the pillars, studying them for any hint of what to do. As he moved, he noticed words carved into the wooden floor.

"The breaking of a pillar follows the breaking of the curse, done by the almighty, done by the oak."

Valor's mind raced, trying to make sense of the cryptic message. "What curse? And who or what is the almighty and the oak?"

He studied the pillars again, looking for any clue. "What's more mighty than a blade?" he muttered to himself. With a determined look in his eyes, he stepped forward and slammed his fist into the pillar with the wolf holding the blade.

The floor began to shake as the two other pillars crumbled into dust. A deep voice boomed throughout the room, sending a chill down Valor's spine.

"You wanted me to stay like this, didn't you!"

A plume of smoke and dust filled the room as something landed on the ground in front of Valor. As the dust cleared, he saw a figure standing before him, tall and imposing. As the smoke and dust cleared, Valor saw a towering beast before him.

The creature stood at least seven feet tall and was covered in shaggy fur, with wolf and human-like features. It wore a tattered white toga and wielded a greatsword that glinted in the dim light. On the belt holding up the toga was a dagger with Greek writing engraved into the blade.

"You failed to break my curse," the lycanthrope snarled. "You, the one who ate man-meat, must die."

Valor's wounds opened up anew, and he struggled to stay on his feet. He scanned the room for a way out, but there was none in sight. He had no choice but to fight.

"I, Lycaon, shall kill the man-eater!" The lycanthrope charged at Valor with a ferocious snarl, his greatsword raised high.

Valor tried to activate his "Sprinter" skill, but his body was too battered and weak from his previous fight. He barely managed to dodge the first strike, the wind from the blade whipping his hair back.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Valor's heart was racing as he looked up to see the lycanthrope charging at him again, swinging its sword with incredible speed and ferocity. Valor could barely keep up with the lycanthrope's movements as he dodged and weaved, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of a weapon or an escape route.

As the lycanthrope swung its sword once more, Valor made a split-second decision. With all his might, he grabbed the hilt of the sword with both hands and used the momentum of the swing to pull himself up onto the beast's back. With one swift motion, he drew Lycaon's own dagger and plunged it deep into the lycanthrope's shoulder.

The lycanthrope howled in pain and flung Valor off its back. Valor hit the ground hard, his body aching from the impact. He struggled to get back up, but the lycanthrope was already upon him.

As the beast raised its sword for the killing blow, Valor saw a glimmer of light from the corner of his eye. With a desperate lunge, he reached out and grabbed the object, which turned out to be a torch. He swung it with all his might, striking the lycanthrope in the face and causing it to stagger back.

Seizing the opportunity, Valor scrambled to his feet and ran towards the exit. He could hear the lycanthrope's angry snarls and heavy footsteps behind him. Just as he reached the door, he felt a sharp pain in his leg and fell to the ground.

The lycanthrope had caught up to him and had sunk its teeth deep into his leg. Valor screamed in pain as he struggled to break free. With all his strength, he kicked the beast in the face, causing it to release its grip and stumble back.

With the lycanthrope momentarily stunned, Valor crawled toward the entrance of the tomb and stumbled out into the open air. He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath as he watched the entrance open and a girl enter. As Valor lay on the ground, his consciousness fading, a figure cloaked in grey appeared before him. The figure gazed down at him with a mixture of sadness and compassion.

"It's your time, young one," the figure said softly, looking out into the empty void. "I'm sorry."

Valor's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. He looked down at his already-tattered clothes, then back up at the figure.

"No! This isn't right!" His face flushed with anger and frustration. "I have to go back and help her!"

The figure approached him and reached out to caress his face.

"Even if you did go back, what could you do?" they asked gently.

Valor's eyes lost all their light as he put his head down, feeling defeated. But after just a moment, he looked back up with renewed determination.

"I'd do whatever it takes," he said with a fiery glint in his eyes. "She came to save me, I have to save her!"

A smile grew on the figure's face.

"Do you promise?"

"Without a doubt!" Valor exclaimed, wiping the blood from his face with excitement.

The figure placed a hand on his shoulder.

"There will come a day when she may need saving. Grow for her. Grow for yourself."

With those words, the figure disappeared, leaving Valor alone in the void. He took a deep breath, his mind racing with thoughts of his loved one in danger. A screen appeared in front of him, offering him a choice.

"Do you wish to go back?"

Valor's finger hovered over the "Yes" button, his heart pounding in his chest. He closed his eyes, summoning all his courage and strength.

"Yes," he said firmly and pressed the button.